Gin & Vodka

What happens when you cross a heritage-fuelled brewery, Harveys, with the chef from a restaurant less than a year old, in this case 64 Degrees? Or world class sparkling winemakers Ridgeview with the man behind the stove at heat-infused eaterie, The Chilli Pickle?

Be among the first to taste the results of these unusual alliances at Brighton & Hove Food & Drink Festival’s newest event, Food Lab, on Sunday 14 September.

Not long now until Brighton & Hove kick off their Autumnal celebrations of all that's fun in food and drink. And you can join in. Whether it's fab ales, tasty ciders, new age gin or serious sparklers, the Festival helps you get to taste some of the region's finest produce.

Always fun, always tasty, below are a few of my highlights. To catch up with all the events, head to the comprehensive Brighton & Hove Food Festival website to see what takes your fancy.

Do you know a great Drinks Producer? I bet you do! You may even be one. Well now’s the chance to get them some serious recognition. But you’ll have to be quick. Nominations for this year’s BBC Food & Farming Awards close at midnight tonight, 27 Jan, so don’t delay.

Past winners have included Once Upon a Tree, the inspiring cider producer based in Herefordshire, the ever-creative, locally rooted Bristol Beer Factory, and Wye Valley Brewery, the community-driven family brewery.

Wondering where to head for that last minute drink gift or bottle for the Christmas table? Here's my Top 20 Best of British Drinks Shops. These places all offer more than just their own creations. Many offer foodstuffs too, and all offer an inviting welcome, where you can generally taste before you buy and get as much advice as you like. All are worth a detour.

And don't forget, if there's somewhere else that you know of that should feature, let me know.

Local drinks old and new add a dose of liquid style to this year’s Kingston Food Festival as it heads into its final weekend.

Along with organic – and award-winning – stalwarts Sedlescombe Vineyard, I can vouch for the tasty brews from new Guildford-based nano-brewery, The Little Beer Corporation, There’s also traditional cider crafted from from East Kent cider apples from the Battle crew, and a delectable range of Blackwood spirits from the ever innovative Sarah at Lurgashall winery.

Do you know of a great British drinks producer you can visit that you’d like to tell the world about? One where you can visit and find out what makes that drink so special? Or is there a pub, restaurant or shop near you which stocks a great range of British drinks?

Well we’d love your help in not only identifying these places, but also writing about them for DrinkBritain.com.

“I’m looking to appoint a dozen DrinkBritain.com regional scouts around the country who can help me share the fascinatingly dynamic world of British drinks as far afield as possible,” says founder Susanna Forbes.

Gin features strongly on this year's London Cocktail Week schedule, with Ginstitute blending classes alongside Hendrick's Gin Mobile Library and cocktails galore at a variety of top bars and restaurants around the capital.

This year's action is based at Seven Dials, Covent Garden, with a number of pop-up bars, masterclasses, and local shops offering cocktails so you can sip while you shop.

All masterclasses must be booked in advance. For details on timings and all activities, see LondonCocktailWeek.com

Bars in Melbourne, Mumbai and San Francisco will be joining gin lovers in Blighty this year to celebrate the fourth World Gin Day on 9 June.

The brainchild of Neil Houston, the 20-something gin lover behind YetAnotherGin.com, this day is all about celebrating the distinctiveness of this most British of spirits, whether it’s out and about Birmingham’s own gin palace, The Jekyll & Hyde in hip London bars Callooh Callay or a new one to me (must get out more!), the London Gin Club.

Bitters are very much in vogue. Their distillation of myriad specially chosen botanicals into a liquid that can transform a drink, soft, spiritual or otherwise, with just a splash, are finally being appreciated.

Previously of London’s 69 Colebrooke Row, that hotspot of cocktail creativity, Alex has been devising this recipe in his north London flat for some time now – around five years I believe! The end result is a liquid that’s been infused with over 45 botanicals, and is an aromatic and complex as you might imagine.